Hope drowned, fields submerged: Montha’s wrath turns farmers’ harvest dreams into flooded fields

Cyclone Montha has wreaked havoc across several districts in Odisha, leaving vast stretches of farmland inundated and farmers in deep despair. The heavy rainfall and gusty winds have submerged hectares of harvested paddy and left standing crops on the verge of complete ruin, especially in Sundargarh district.

What was supposed to be a season of harvest has turned into a period of distress for hundreds of cultivators.

According to reports, the Koida block has been among the worst affected, with continuous downpours and light winds lashing the region for nearly two days. Several villages, including Pattamunda, Sanuan, and Ranishala, have suffered severe agricultural damage. Paddy fields in these areas now lie waterlogged, and crops that were just days away from harvest have been either flattened or soaked beyond recovery.

Farmers say the storm has ‘broken their backbone’, with many facing heavy financial losses and uncertainty about future yields.

ALSO READ: Elephant incursions in Digapahandi villages destroy paddy crops, residents live in fear

In some regions, harvested paddy piles remain submerged, while in others, golden crops ready for reaping have been completely drenched. Adding to their woes, farmers who had spent months guarding their fields from elephants and wild boars now find their efforts washed away by nature’s fury.

The devastation caused by Montha once again underscores the growing vulnerability of Odisha’s agrarian communities to erratic climate events. Farmers have appealed to the government for timely assessment of losses and immediate relief measures to help them recover from this setback.

Agricultural experts have also stressed the need for better drainage infrastructure and climate-resilient farming practices to mitigate future risks.